Internet activists, state governments, and individual consumers are up in arms about the FCC’s 3-2 vote to repeal net neutrality, and Congress has joined them.
Shortly after the FCC’s vote to dismantle the 2015 net neutrality rules on Thursday, Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) announced he and 15 other senators will introduce a Congressional Review Act resolution in an effort to undo the decision. Congressional Review Acts gives Congress 60 days to vote on regulations passed by government agencies– and they can overturn new rules with a majority vote.
“Without strong net neutrality rules, entrepreneurs, inventors, small businesses, activists and all those who rely on a free and open internet will be at the mercy of big broadband companies that can block websites, slow down traffic and charge websites fees in order to increase their profits,” said Markey in a statement. “With this CRA, Congress can correct the Commission’s misguided and partisan decision and keep the internet in the hands of the people, not big corporations.”
Meanwhile, a handful of non-profits have joined together and created a website to help citizens contact their representatives and petition a Resolution of Disapproval under the Congressional Review Act to overturn the widely unpopular FCC verdict.
The Fight for the Future, Demand Progress, and Free Press Action Fund have dubbed themselves and all other net neutrality supporters “Team Internet” and have set up a texting campaign for individuals who want to participate in this fight even more urgently.
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“Lawmakers cannot hide from their constituents on this issue,” according to a statement released by Fight for the Future. “The internet has given ordinary people more power than ever before. We’re going to fight tooth and nail to make sure no one takes that power away.”
Additionally, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman plans on suing the FCC over this decision, an announcement that came immediately after the FCC’s December 14 vote.
This fight is only just beginning. Stay tuned.
